Milk and Eggs Giveaway

If you follow me on Instagram, you've probably seen me post about Milk and Eggs, a grocery delivery service that I love. I am a fan of Milk and Eggs for a few reasons. First, it has a ton of my favorite brands, including Kite Hill Cheese and Vital Farms. Second, the produce comes straight from the farms, which means prices are lower since there is no middleman. Third, it delivers directly to your doorstep, which makes life so easy when you don't have time to go to the grocery store.

There are also subscription option to have groceries delivered on a weekly/bi-weekly schedule. So far, the service is only in the LA and OC regions, but you can check the map on their site to see if you live within the area. 

Through Milk and Eggs, you can order anything from fresh kale and tomatoes, cold brew, vegan cheese, juices, sauces, and more. You do have to order a day or two in advance, but it arrives early in the morning, so you're good to go even in time for breakfast. Want to try it yourself? Check the information below to get a chance to win free groceries!

**So here's the giveaway**

You have a chance to win a $100 gift card to Milk and Eggs, and all you have to do is sign up for their email subscription list here. The deadline to enter is next Friday, June 2nd. Winner will be selected at random!

In the meantime, you can also use my special code "KALE" at checkout to get $15 off any order of $35 or more. 

Rainbow Salmon Kale Salad

Holy moly it has been over a month since I've written on here! Time does fly... I'm not sure how half of 2017 is almost over. I know I don't have to explain my absence, but I was finishing up writing my manuscript for my second cookbook! Can't wait to share with you guys the topic, and I think everyone will love it.

This salmon salad is perfect for those days where you need to restore balance, whether it's in your energy levels, your digestion, your mood, and more. It's filled with nutrients to help set everything straight. Food can be so powerful.

Ingredients (serves 1)

• 2 beets
• 1 salmon filet
• Dash of sea salt and pepper
• 2 cups chopped kale, massaged
• 2 tablespoons sauerkraut
• 1 tablespoon pumpkin seeds
• 1-2 tablespoons almond milk ricotta cheese
• Handful of alfalfa sprouts
• 1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil
• 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Spread a baking sheet with aluminum foil. Cut off the greens of the beets, and wrap each up in tinfoil. Place on them on the baking sheet.

2. Add the salmon filet to the baking sheet as well, and top with a drizzle of olive oil and a dash of sea salt and pepper. Place baking sheet in the oven and bake for 25 minutes. Remove salmon, and cook the beets for an additional 25-30 minutes. When beets are removed from the oven, they should be soft, and the skin should easily be peeled off.

3. While the beets are cooking, add the kale to a medium/large bowl along with the salmon. When beets are ready, peel them, and chop them up. Add them to the kale bowl, along with sauerkraut, pumpkin seeds, ricotta, and sprouts. Top with olive oil and vinegar. 

Kale Salad with Lemon Miso Dressing

I've been working on book #2, so most of my energy has been going into creating those recipes (can't wait to share what it is!!). I've been trying to use up all my ingredients I have in the fridge, and this has resulted in some interesting combinations. I was craving a kale salad yesterday, and I wanted to use my leftover miso in a dressing. I also had some leftover feta cheese I wanted to finish as well. 

Typically, I think of miso used in Asian cuisine, and feta cheese is clearly Mediterranean. But I thought why not give it a try. Turns out, it tastes totally normal to eat together! I also got a little weirder and threw in some pistachios after I saw a pistachio miso salad online. The ingredients in this salad might sound weird, but I promise you, it tastes really good. Just like a refreshing light kale salad should taste :)

Ingredients (serves 1)

• 1 pasture-raised egg
• 3 cups kale leaves (massaged in olive oil and salt)
• 2 tablespoons pistachio meats
• 1 tablespoon feta cheese
• 1/4 avocado, sliced
• 1 teaspoon sesame seeds

Lemon Miso Dressing

• 1/2 teaspoon red miso paste
• Juice of 1 small lemon
• 1/2 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/4 teaspoon honey

1. First, soft-boil the egg. Add egg to a small pot and cover with water. Bring to a boil, and then turn off the heat. Let the egg sit in the hot water for 5 minutes, then remove and place into a bowl of cold water to cool (with the shell still on).

2. Add kale leaves to a bowl (massage with a dash of salt and olive oil). Add pistachios and feta cheese.

3. Make the miso dressing by combining ingredients together in a small bowl and mixing until smooth. Toss the kale, pistachios, and feta in the dressing.

4. Remove the shell from the egg, and cut in half. Add to the salad along with the avocado. Top with sesame seeds.  

Homemade Almond Milk

I have always hated milk. I always thought it was so gross, and as a child I made my mom buy me soy milk because I refused to drink milk. As I got older and realized that milk isn't really all that healthy, I felt less guilty about using alternative milks and began to fully embrace them.

Then one day someone told me that store-bought nut milks are often filled with unnecessary ingredients like carrageenan, added sugars, and other weird additives. I was intimidated by the idea of making almond milk at home, so I stuck to making cashew milk, which didn't require any special tools like a cheesecloth or nut milk bag.

Except all this has changed now that I've gotten my hands on some Ellie's Best Nut Milk Bags. First of all, nut milk bags are NOT expensive, and I don't know why I was scared to purchase one in the first place. Second of all, making almond milk IS NOT HARD AT ALL. It's worth the extra prep to have fresh tasting, pure almond milk, and my coffee and smoothies have never tasted better. Plus, you can also make cold brew using these bags, and that's pretty freakin awesome (I've saved so much money on my coffee drinks by making them at home!)

This almond milk can be made super basic, or you can add on my suggested goodies at the end for more flavor. You will need a nut milk bag, BUT you can order one from Ellie's Best and get 10 percent off using my discount code "Carina10." In addition to cold brew and almond milk, you can use these bags for all sorts of different nut milks. Next on my list to try: Hemp Seed Milk.

Ingredients (makes 2 cups)

• 1 cup raw unsalted almonds
• 2 cups filtered water

Optional Add-Ins

• 1/2 teaspoon pure grade B maple syrup
• 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla

1. Soak the almonds overnight to soften. This step is essential and cannot be skipped!

2. In the morning, add almonds and water to a blender along with any additional add ins you want to use to flavor your nut milk. Pulse a few times, and then blend for about a minute or so until you've reached a smooth consistency.

3. Place out a large bowl, and have your nut milk bag open. Pour the almond liquid into the nut milk bag, letting the almond milk strain out into the bowl. Use your hands to squeeze the pulp that's caught in the nut milk bag to get out the rest of the liquid. Store in a milk bottle or mason jar, and keep in the refrigerator for up to a few days. 

Goat Cheese Mushroom Ravioli

I have yet to make pasta by hand, but this homemade ravioli shortcut is one step closer to making my own fresh pasta. I got the idea online to make your own ravioli by using fresh lasagna sheets, and they turned out pretty well! Plus, they're definitely simple enough for even the most basic cook.

What's fun about making your own ravioli is that you get total control over what goes inside, and that means your options are endless. This ravioli contains goat cheese, mushrooms, and Prohibited Provisions Italian Herb Garlic Mix. But you can also experiment and make your own vegan pesto filling, use butternut squash — shove three cheeses in there if you want. Just keep in mind that these ravioli come out on the larger side, so you won't need to eat as many as you think.

Tip: I got my fresh lasagna sheets at Whole Foods!

Ingredients (Serves 2; Makes 8 Ravioli) 

• 1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 cup chopped white mushrooms
• 4 tablespoons goat cheese
• 2 tablespoons Prohibited Provisions Italian Herb Garlic Mix (if you don't have this, add 2 cloves garlic to the pan with the mushrooms instead)
• 4 fresh lasagna sheets
• Fresh sliced basil, for garnish

1. Heat up olive oil in a small pan on medium heat. Add mushrooms (and garlic, if you're not using Prohibited Provisions), and sauté the mushrooms until they're soft, about 3-4 minutes.

2. In a medium bowl, combine cooked mushrooms, goat cheese, and garlic mix until smooth.

3. Take each lasagna sheet and run it under warm water for 5 seconds on each side to soften. Lay on a floured surface and cut each sheet in half crosswise (This video can help). 

4. Spoon the mixture evenly into each of the 8 pieces. Fold the ravioli dough in half, and press down with a fork on the sides to seal.

5. Bring a large pot of water to boil, and add the ravioli. Cook until ravioli floats to the top, about 3 minutes or so. Serve with a drizzle of olive oil and chopped basil.